Obstetric Anesthesia

The Obstetric Anesthesia Service at Brigham and Women's Hospital is one of the foremost programs of its kind in the world. Our labor unit is the largest in New England and the third largest in the nation, with more than 9,000 births annually.

As a tertiary referral center, more than 25 percent of deliveries are high risk, including patients with preeclampsia as well as cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic disease. More than 75 percent of patients receive anesthetic care.

Supporting Pain-Free Childbirth

The Division of Obstetric Anesthesia supports any decisions made by a patient regarding pain relief during labor and provides the information needed to answer any questions. The goal is to make the labor and delivery experience a safe and pleasant experience.

Led by Brian Bateman, MD, a renowned leader in obstetric anesthesia, the Service has produced hundreds of research articles and features ongoing laboratory and clinical research efforts in every aspect of the discipline. Faculty serve in leadership roles in international societies and editorial boards, and have been honored with national research and teaching awards.

Fellowship Program

The Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship is a one-year program that has been ACGME-accredited since 2012. As integral members of our anesthesia team, fellows benefit from a full range of state-of-the-art obstetric and anesthetic services.